Nozzle and the like for inflatable and other articles



Sept. 29, 1925.

. A. NIELD NOZVZDE`AIDTTHE LIKE FOR INFLATABLE AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Ilay B, 1923 Fatented Sept. 29, 1925i.

UNITED STATES ARCHIBALD NIELD, 0E MANCHESTER,

MOSELEY & SONS LIMITED,

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID OE MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.l

NOZZLE AND THE LIKE FOR INFLATABLE AND OTHER ARTICLES.

Application filed May 8,

To all whom imag concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD NIELD, a subject of the King of Great Britain. and Ireland, and a resident of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Nozzles andthe like for Inflatable and Other Articles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has reference to nozzles and the like for inflatable and other articles, and while primarily intended for application to the inflation nozzles or tubes of football bladders, the invention is also applicable to the inflation nozzles or the like of other inflatable articles (e. g., pneumatic cushions, etc), and to the fillingnozzles or the like of articles for holding or to be filled with liquids (e. g., water cushions), inrcases where it is convenient that the nozzle or the like should project from the article during the inflating or filling operation. The object of the invention is to provide improvements in such nozzles or the like whereby to overcome the objection frequently caused by the nozzle or the like normally projecting and having in some cases to be bent over, as, e. g., in securing an inflated football bladder in its case.

According to this invention, a nozzle or the like for inflatable and other articles is adapted to be introverted or sheathed within itself, so that it may be pulled out to project beyond the article on which it is used, or may be introverted or sheathed so as not to project beyond the periphery.

The invention is hereinafter exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings in its application to the inflation tube o-f a football bladder. In the drawings, Fig. l is a sectional view showing the inflation tube in the extended position for inflating the bladder, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tube in the introverted or sheathed position.

Referring to the drawings, 3 denotes the bladder the hole in which is strengthened with the usual rubber washer 4 to which the inner end of the inflation tube is secured.

The inflation tube comprises an inwardly extending inner portion 5 of comparatively large diameter, an outer portion 6 of much smaller diameter and an intervening portion 10 of intermediate diameter. The inner and 1923. Serial N'o. 637,500.

outer portions 5, 6 of the tube are strengthened and stiffened by coverings 7 and 8 of rubber-proofed gauze to reduce their flexibility and impart to them a certain amount of rigidity axially. The intervening-portion l0 of the tube is left quite flexible to allow of the outer portion 6 being moved within the inner portion 5. Tapes 9 are secured along the outside of the tube at diametrically opposite points to preventaXial stretching of the portion 10the tapes, which may lie below the covering 8, beingsuificiently narrow as not to aect the necessary flexibility of the portion 10.v The tapesy 9 'are' provided with loose ends the portion 6.

T o inflate the bladder 3 it isxplaced in its case with the outer portion 6 of the inflation tube drawn outwards by the'loose ends of forv drawing ,out

vthe tapes'9 into the position shown inFig. l.

The outerfportion 6 rof the inflation` tube is passed through the hole in the usual tongue and the case laced to semi-tightness and inflation then effected in the usual way. After inflation the inflation tube may be sealed by a rubber plug 11 and band 12, Fig. 2, or in any other suitable way, and the outer portion 6 of the tube is pushed inwards until the tube is introverted or sheathed within itself, as shown in Fig. 2, and does not project beyond the surface of the bladder. The lacing of the case is then completed and secured. l

In addition to the tube being sealed by the plug 11 and band 12 or other means, it may be provided with a teat or other non-return rubber valve.

A football bladder fitted with an inflation tube as described above provides a ball of more truly spherical shape than a bladder having an ordinary tube, as there is no bulging such as is caused by the bending over of the ordinary tube.

Instead of the inflation tube being made with distinct or definite variations in diameter as above described, and illustrated, the tube may gradually taper in diameter from its inner to its outer end.

Although, as previously stated, the invention is primarily intended for application to the inflation tubes of football bladders, and it has been exemplified in such application, it will be apparent that the invention is also applicable to the inflation or filling nozzles or the like of other iniiatable articles and also of articles for holding or to be filled with liquids.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A nozzle or the like for inflatable and other articles, Which is adapted to be introverted or sheathed Within itself so that it may be pulled out to project beyond the article on which it is used, or may be introverted or sheathed so as not to project beyond the article, comprising inner and outer portions of respectively larger and smaller diameter and of suitable stiffness to prevent introversion, and an intervening` introvertible and extravertible portion of intermediate diameter and of suliiciently greater flexibility than said stiffer inner and outer portions to be pulled out or pushed in Without causing introversion of either of the said stiffer portions upon itself.

2. The invention pointed out in claim l in combination With st-iifening tubes for said inner and outer nozzle portions.

3. The invention pointed out in claim l in combination With a stiffening sleeve covering said inner nozzle portion, and another stiffening sleeve covering said outer nozzle portion.

4C. The invention pointed out in claim 1 in combination With a tape extending along said intervening nozzle portion and overlapping said inner and outer nozzle portions, to prevent stretching of said intervening nozzle portion.

5. The invention pointed out in claim l in combination Wit-h a tape extending along the outside of said intervening nozzle portion and overlapping upon the outside of said outer nozzle portion and upon the inner side of said inner nozzle portion.

6. The invention pointed out in claim l in combination With a tape extending along the outside of said intervening nozzle portion and overlapping Within said inner nozzle portion and upon the outside of said outer nozzle portion and having loose ends extending beyond the outer end of the outer nozzle portion.

7 The invention pointed out in claim l in combination With a tape extending along the outside of said intervening nozzle portion and overlapping Within said inner nozzle portion and upon the outside of said outer nozzle portion and having loose ends extending beyond the outer end of the outer nozzle portion, a stiffening sleeve covering said inner nozzle portion, and another stifening sleeve covering said outer nozzle portion and the portion of the tape thereon.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARCHIBALD NIELD. 

